IMPHAL: The Kuki Students'
Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) alleged that the state
government of Manipur has acquired a village land without the consent of
the village chiefs in the border area of Moreh.
"In yet another instance of government’s audacity in acquiring land without the consent of the chiefs, it has clandestinely allotted village land in Moreh to its departments, which became public just recently in local newspapers on June 19, 2014," said the KSO-GHQ. It added that impudence shown by the revenue department by allotting land measuring 3.6465 hectares to district and commerce industries, fire services, medical, treasury and PWD is not acceptable. According to the KSO-GHQ, the village chiefs did not have an inkling of this land acquisition, when an inquiry was initiated by the KSO. "No chiefs' authorization was obtained when the government allotted these lands to its departments. Therefore, this amounted to thievery," the apex Kuki students' body accused.
The statement then said the KSO and other tribal organizations have been suspicious all along of government’s game plan to grab tribal lands in the hills. The government created reserved forests, parks, JFMC etc. without an iota of respect to chiefs' rights, it added. The chiefs who are mostly illiterates generally kept their silence because of their gullibility; and also because of the notion that it was all for development and for the good of poor villagers. So, out of ignorance, the chiefs were in the dark while their lands were steadily annexed in the guise of development and progress. The government is becoming a land shark.
The KSO then warned that it will no longer remain a mute spectator to this policy. According to the KSO, during Chief Minister RK Jaychandra’s times, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the MLR & LR Act to cover all the hill districts of Manipur and the Act was sent to the Governor of Manipur for his ‘Assent’. However the Governor flatly rejected the Act saying that it needs the approval of the Hill Area Committee and the Act was eventually quashed. It is baffling how an Act already repealed in the past can now be used to acquire lands in the hill areas. While the government does not have the guts to acquire land in Ukhrul, Tamenglong, and Senapati, it differentially treated the lands in Kuki inhabited areas without any regard. It acted as if our lands are wastelands and opened for all. In fact, the government always tries to acquire land at its whims and fancy. The latest being the 3000 acres acquisition plan in Haolenphai, KSO stated.
According to the KSO-GHQ, in the beginning it was just 250 acres, then 1000 acres, and now 3000 acres. The plan to acquire such massive area of land smells of a sinister design. It is inviting civil unrest by this action. As a matter of fact, the chief of Haolenphai has the unquestionable authority to grant plot of land for settlement within his village, at the same time the chief also has the rights to refuse any sale of land. It also said that the government is trying to make sure its land revenue and land reform policy applies to hill areas too. It passed acts or laws detrimental to tribal people, especially to the traditions and customs of the Kuki people, the KSO stated.
"The Village Authority Act, Village Development Council Act, etc. are such laws designed to drive a wedge between the chief and his villagers. These Acts or Laws are in contravention to the tribal’s customary chiefs/Khullakpas' relation with villagers. All the chiefs and Khullakpas and the tribal people should defy these land laws unitedly to protect ourselves. All tribal MLAs, ministers, MPs, Members of District Councils (MDCs), must uphold the sanctity of the traditional tribal landownership system and work accordingly. Tamu- Moreh area was also one of the battle fronts during the Anglo-Kuki War of 1917-19", the KSO-GHQ pointed out.
Therefore, the government if it is sincere enough to usher in development in Moreh, must learn to tread carefully so as to avoid civil unrests. Development which condescends upon our traditions and customs is meaningless development for us," the apex Kuki students' body said.